The
Pocono Mountain region is the perfect place to vacation,
retire or raise a family.
In fact, throughout the 1980's and '90's, Monroe and
Pike counties, considered the “heart of the Poconos”,
have ranked first and second in percentage of population
growth among all Pennsylvania counties. Along with the
population expansion of Monroe and Pike, Carbon and Wayne
counties have also seen a considerable increase in recent
years as people continue to see the advantage of relocating
to this beautiful, diversified region.
 In
addition, thousands of other folks have built second
homes in the Poconos, but are
not counted on the permanent
population figures. Nearly a ¼ of the nation’s
population lives on the East Coast from Boston to
Washington, D.C. The total number of people who live
within a two-hour
drive of the Poconos, folks deemed most likely to
consider a vacation home in this region, is a staggering
27,583,000!
People are attracted to the Poconos
because of the quality of life. The air is clean here
and wildlife
is plentiful.
Brooks, ponds and waterfalls are sprinkled throughout
the region. Pristine rivers and creeks offer boating
and fishing opportunities. Thousands of acres of
game lands lure hunters. And the scenery is nothing
short
of remarkable. From pastoral views of rolling farmlands
to dramatic mountain cliffs, opportunities for
recreation and to just take in the landscape are
incredibly
diverse. Horseback riding, golf, skiing, hiking
and biking are
just a sample of popular outdoor activities enjoyed
here by all ages. These are just some of the reasons
people
choose to live and vacation in the Poconos.
Other benefits of particular
interest to home buyers include good schools, safe neighborhoods
and
lower taxes than in adjoining states. For instance,
most
property
taxes are about half the rates charged for similar
homes in New Jersey, the closest neighboring
state. Homes are
less expensive in the Poconos than in New Jersey
along with maintenance
costs and the general cost of living.
 Many home buyers in this area
are in their mid - to late 50's. They purchase homes
to use
for vacation
or weekend
getaways until retirement, when they often
wind up becoming full-time residents of the area.
Situated
off of scenic U.S. Route 6 is beautiful man made Lake
Wallenpaupack. Stretching
for 12 miles with
55 miles of idyllic shoreline is a year round
setting for recreation and fun that the entire family
can
enjoy. There are also many other lakes and
lake-side communities throughout the region. North of
Lake Wallenpaupack
are the charming
Victorian towns
of Hawley
and Honesdale. The Lake Region is rich in
history
and culture, offering many fine museums and
historical landmarks. Honesdale is the birthplace
of the
American railroad
where you can still ride the rails today
on the Stourbridge Line Train Excursions running
along
the Lackawaxen
River. Also nicknamed the "Maple City," Honesdale
Borough officials had 1500 maple trees planted
in 1847 to provide shade. Many of those same
trees still decorate
the downtown landscape today.
Recent
years have seen construction of shopping centers
with the focus on KMart and
WalMart
superstores, a
large supermarket, multiplex cinema, convenience
stores and
plenty of charming boutiques. Antique shopping
is a favorite pastime in the area with particular
opportunity
to be
found throughout Hawley’s historic
storefronts. Arts and crafts fairs abound
along with outdoor concerts
and cultural events. Come to the annual Wildflower
Festival of Music & Art at the Dorflinger – Suydam
Wildlife Sanctuary, once the area’s
finest lead crystal producer in the country.
The Mountain Laurel Center for
the Performing Arts is the newest addition
to the area nestled on a serene 675 acres
and home to national and
international performers, lecturers and visitors.
For all of those golfers out there, you’ll
enjoy the Cricket Hill Golf Club situated
1/2 way between Hawley
and Honesdale and only 10 minutes from Lake
Wallenpaupack. Among the multitude of state
parks, museums and recreational
opportunities there is surely something for
everyone to enjoy in the heart of the Pocono
Mountains.
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The following is a list of useful
resources:
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
Hawley-Lake Wallenpaupack Chamber of Commerce
Lake Wallenapupack, Rt. 6, PO Box 150, Hawley,
PA 18428 (570) 226-3191
Wayne County Chamber of Commerce
303 Commercial St., Honesdale, PA 18431 (570) 253-1960
Southern Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 296, Hamlin, PA 18427 (570) 689-4199
Pike County Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 883, Milford, PA 18337 (570) 296-8700
Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce
426 Mulberry St., Scranton, PA 18501 (570) 342-7711
SCHOOLS
Wallenpaupack Area School District, Main Office
Rt. 6, Hawley, PA (570) 226-4557
Western Wayne School District
South Canaan, PA (570) 937-4112
Wayne Highlands School District
Honesdale, PA 18431 (570) 253-2046
NEWSPAPERS
The News Eagle
Hawley, PA (570) 226-4547
Milford, PA (570) 296-4547
The Wayne Independent
Honesdale, PA (570) 253-3055
VISITOR’S
INFORMATION
Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Inc.
1004 Main St. Stroudsburg, PA 18360 (570) 421-5791
Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau /
Lake Wallenpaupack Information Center (570) 226-2141
PPL Utilities Lake Wallenpaupack
Visitors Center (570)
226-3702
COUNTY / LOCAL / STATE GOVERNMENT
Hawley Borough Council
Main Ave., Hawley, PA 18428 (570) 226-9545
Wayne County Courthouse
925 Court St., Honesdale, PA 18431 (570) 253-5970
Pike County Courthouse
Broad St., Milford, PA 18337 (570) 296-7744
Children & Youth
Services
Honesdale, PA 18431 (570) 253-5970
Children & Youth
Services
Milford, PA 18337 (570) 296-3446
Wayne County Transportation
System (570) 253-4280
PA Department of Health (570) 253-3730
PA
Fish & Boat
Commission
Sweet Valley, PA (570) 477-5717
Pennsylvania State Police
Honesdale Barracks, Honesdale, PA 18431 (570) 253-7126
Revenue
Department of Taxpayer’s
Assistance
101 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA (570) 963-4585
Better Business Bureau
Scranton, PA (570) 342-9129
NATURAL AREAS
Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary & Dorflinger
Glass Museum
Long Ridge Rd., White Mills, PA 18473 (570)
253-1185
Lacawac Sanctuary
Lake Ariel, PA 18436 (570) 689-9494
Ledgedale Natural Area
Ledgedale, PA (570) 680-2181
Shuman Point Natural Area
Rt. 590, Lakeville, PA 18438
STATE PARKS
Promised Land State Park
Greentown, PA (570) 676-3428
Tobyhanna State Park
Tobyhanna, PA (570) 894-8336
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Dingmans Ferry, PA (570) 828-7802
Lackawanna State Park
Dalton, PA (570) 945-3239
CULTURAL
& HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Mountain Laurel Center for the Performing
Arts
Bushkill Falls Road, Bushkill, PA 18324 1-866-458-8652
Dorflinger Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary
Long Ridge Road, P.O. Box 356, White Mills, PA 18473
(570) 253-1185
Wallenpaupack Historical
Society
PO Box 345, Paupack, PA 18451 (570) 226-4454
Wayne County Historical Society
810 Main St., Honesdale, PA 18431 (570) 253-3240
Pike County Historical Society
PO Box 915, Milford, PA 18337 (570) 296-8126
Zane Grey Museum
Lackawaxen, PA (570) 685-4871
Grey Towers National Historic Landmark
Milford, PA (570) 296-9630
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